Fox Chapel Area switching to virtual learning Nov. 23-Dec. 4

Fox Chapel Area students will switch to a remote learning model from Nov. 23 to Dec. 4 because of surging covid-19 cases in Allegheny County.

Superintendent Mary Catherine Reljac called it a difficult but necessary decision.

“We want our children to remain in school, and the layered mitigation strategies in our schools have been rather successful,” Reljac said.

However, the county health department deemed the region to be in a substantial level of virus transmissions, with more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents over a seven-day period.

Districtwide, there have been 14 cases confirmed so far in November, compared with 15 total in the first three months of school. Dorseyville Middle School has seen the highest number of confirmed illness, with 11 cases total. Seven of those were reported in November.

Reljac said transmissions do not appear to be school-related, rather they are a result of community spread through family interactions, parties and other social gatherings.

During the remote learning, athletics will be modified on a case-by-case basis. Families will receive additional alerts from the athletic department.

Students will have opportunities for both synchronous and asynchronous learning, Reljac said.

Elementary students who have been attending in-person instruction should log in to their Google Classrooms at their typical start time and follow their “Indigo In-person” schedule. Elementary students who attended virtual blended instruction should log in to their Google Classrooms at their typical start time and follow their “Orange Online” schedule. Those who participate in full-time asynchronous instruction should continue with their classes as scheduled.

Secondary students should log in to Schoology and follow the same routine as they do on current virtual learning days.

Families should continue to do health screenings daily.

When students return to buildings on Dec. 7, the plan is for elementary to come back for full-time in-person instruction and all others to return to hybrid learning.

“We will continue to be in regular contact with the county health department, as well as monitor guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to inform our decisions on instructional model changes going forward,” Reljac said.

If officials decide to remain in virtual learning for a longer period, the district will notify families by Dec. 3.

Reljac urged families to continue wearing masks indoors and outdoors when not with immediate family and to practice social distancing.

“By doing so, you are doing your part to help our students to return for in-person instruction as soon as possible,” she said.

For more information, visit fcasd.edu/coronavirus.